For the last three years, hospitals have averaged losses for every inpatient primary hip replacement they have performed, and over two years have averaged losses for every inpatient primary knee replacement, according to an Oct. 26 "Strata and Syntellis Performance Trends" report, which reviewed data from 2,000 hospitals and 135,000 physicians nationwide.
While total margins per case have consistently decreased for hospitals in the inpatient setting, they have increased in the outpatient setting.
Orthopedic inpatient versus outpatient margins for primary hip and primary knee replacements:
2020
Primary hip replacement
Inpatient: $1,292
Outpatient: $3,049
Primary knee replacement
Inpatient: $3,196
Outpatient: $2,335
2021
Primary hip replacement
Inpatient: $-679
Outpatient: $4,096
Primary knee replacement
Inpatient: $1,855
Outpatient: $3,249
2022
Primary hip replacement
Inpatient: -$3,233
Outpatient: $3,802
Primary knee replacement
Inpatient: $-816
Outpatient: $3,097
2023
Primary hip replacement
Inpatient: $-3,498
Outpatient: $3,466
Primary knee replacement
Inpatient: $-1,402
Outpatient: $2,879